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Trinity River Authority says Red Oak Creek expansion needed as Glenn Heights faces a projected 46% sewer rate increase in 2027
Summary
Trinity River Authority officials told the Glenn Heights City Council that system growth requires expanding the Red Oak Creek treatment plant, estimating a phased capital program that could raise Glen(n) Heights’ proportionate sewer charge and produce an approximate 46% rate increase in 2027; TRA representatives said expansion is driven by flow projections and regulatory thresholds.
Trinity River Authority officials told the Glenn Heights City Council on July 7 that the Red Oak Creek regional wastewater system is nearing capacity and must expand from its current 6 million gallons per day (MGD) to 8 MGD and later to 12 MGD to keep pace with development across participating cities.
"We started seeing back in March '24 we were about 90% of our plant capacity, and we actually went over 90% — which means if you go over you have to be in construction," Matthew Gelberd, TRA executive manager for the Northern Region, told the council. He described a phased capital-improvement plan that includes additional storage tanks, aeration upgrades and piping work aimed to put phase 1 online around 2027.
Council members pressed TRA on how costs would be allocated and the near-term impact on Glen(n) Heights residents. TRA staff said capital costs are apportioned to member cities by proportionate flow share measured at TRA meters; Glen(n) Heights was shown as contributing roughly one-third of system flow. "Based on the projections we saw, that green chart is basically the plant capacity. Once the blue line goes above the green line, we're out of compliance with TCEQ from a flow perspective," Gelberd said.
Clifford Blackwell, Glenn Heights city manager, invited TRA to return with more city-specific breakdowns after council requested an itemized projection of how much of the $256 million peak-phase cost would be Glen(n) Heights' share. TRA calculated Glen(n) Heights’ 33% share of a $256 million package as about $84.5 million spread over a 20-year repayment period; TRA estimated that under the scenario shown, Glen(n) Heights could face a roughly 46% increase in its wastewater rate in 2027.
"A 46% increase in one year is, to our citizens, to say it lightly, insane," Mayor Pro Tem Travis J. Bruton said during the discussion. Council members asked TRA for audited flow breakdowns, a historical settle-up summary showing any refunds to the city, and scenarios that would show how Glen(n) Heights’ share might change if neighboring cities grow at different rates.
TRA said it is pursuing a mix of financing options (including state loans and extendable commercial paper) and is continuing design of the 8-to-12 MGD expansion. TRA staff noted construction inflation and long lead times for treatment-plant equipment as cost pressures. The council asked for follow-up documents — meter-calibrated flow reports, the city-specific revenue requirement schedules, and explanations of contingency assumptions — before any formal commitment.
Next steps: TRA will provide the executive summary and detailed revenue-requirement worksheets to city staff; council members asked staff to return the data and schedule follow-up briefings so any rate impacts can be evaluated before the 2027 fiscal start.
